Falling in Love with Venice
For my one month stay in Italy, I chose Florence as my home base because of how accessible it was to other nearby cities. My theory proved true on my 3 day adventure to Venice.
I was able to book a bus to Venice from Florence using the Rome to Rio app for a grand total of $8. Yes, a 4 hour bus ride for $8! And the bus was nice and included wifi.
I booked a Bed and Breakfast in Quarto D’altino which is a town in the metropolitan city of Venice and about 30 minutes outside of the main island.
This Airbnb was like it’s own little oasis in the city. I instantly fell in love. This was also my first time in a somewhat communal living space while traveling. I had my own room and bathroom but there were three other rooms in the house and the kitchen was shared.
The hosts put so much detail into their home. They had QR codes on the property you could scan that would give you tour recommendations, activities to do in the city and local recommendations for restaurants, stores and coffee shops.
My first night there I met a couple in the shared kitchen from Canada. They had a similar story to mine. They had quit their job and were traveling together across the world for a year! The Kicker? The majority of their travels would be by bike. They were biking through Europe and from Europe they would fly to Thailand to continue the adventure. WOW! Their one year biking adventure made my 3 month solo adventure seem like nothing lol!
The Bed and Breakfast
The next morning I ventured out to the city. I had to walk 8 minutes to the train and then take the train for about 25 minutes to get to the island. I purchased a day pass that gave me access to all of the transportation on the island for the day.
I remember walking off the train, onto the pier and seeing the canals for the first time. I felt like I had just been transported back in time and walked onto a movie set. Venice felt unreal.
I heard that Venice was confusing to move around and that was NOT a lie. Google maps did me no favors in that city. And even with me being lost, I still loved the chaos of it all. I had left early to make it in time for a free walking tour which I missed because I got lost! I ended up on a self guided walking tour which turned out fine lol.
I saw couples on honeymoons, people having photoshoots, the works! I passed lots of bakeries and fresh markets. Every turn was like a new adventure that you had no idea you were embarking on. The bridges were packed! And loud singing from the Gondoliers filled the air.
The only way around the island was by water taxi so figuring that out was probably the most difficult part of the day. Figuring out how to get to the other islands (Murano and Burano) was a task! Murano is known for glass making and Burano is known for the colorful houses. Both of them were a must see on my list so I had to figure it out!
After asking multiple people I found the correct boat to Murano. There are certain timetables for the boat and if you miss the last boat back then you are stuck on the island! So I had to put myself on a strict schedule to not get stuck.
Murano is known for their beautiful glass and the art of glassmaking so I knew I had to make it to a glassmaking demonstration. And just my luck - I found one! The entire process was fascinating to watch.
Before I left, I had to buy some souvenirs! I purchased a bracelet for my mom and a ring for myself!
My glass ring from Murano.
After leaving Murano, I headed to Burano. I was SO excited to get there. Burano is the town notoriously known for their lace work and colorful buildings. It is a photographer’s dream!
I walked around for a couple of hours just snapping pictures, walking in the shops and ended the day with a bowl of pasta.
After finishing my meal, I headed back to the pier to wait for the boat back to the main land. I was so FULL from the experience from the day. Venice was absolutely a place I know I have to go back to. I only had one day to explore but it was a day well spent.
I headed back to my B&B to prepare for the adventure I had scheduled for the next day…..The DOLOMITES.
Experience one of Europe’s most scenic train rides.